The recently released Forbes’ 35th Annual World’s Billionaires List include a record-breaking 2,755 billionaires.
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This is despite the unprecedented repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wealth of the world’s richest persons across the globe.
“Despite the pandemic, it was a record-setting year for the world’s wealthiest—with a $5 trillion surge in wealth and an unprecedented number of new billionaires.”
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Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos, worth $177 billion, has topped the list for the fourth consecutive year.
Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk, worth a $151 billion fortune, jumping to the second spot on the list from 31st position last year.
French luxury goods tycoon Bernard Arnault holds onto his spot at No. 3 with $150 billion with Bill Gates at No. 4 and Mark Zuckerberg, at $97 billion at No. 5 with $124 billion and $97 billion fortune respectively.
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There are a record high 493 newcomers to the list—roughly one new billionaire every 17 hours, including 210 from China and Hong Kong and 98 from the U.S.
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Ranked No. 10 and worth an estimated $84.5 billion, India’s Mukesh Ambani has become the richest person in Asia.
“The three richest Indians alone have added just over $100 billion between them,” Forbes said.
Other notable Indian billionaires include Gautam Adani (ranked 21, $58.5 billion), Shiv Nadar (ranked 63, 25.4 billion) and Lakshmi Mittal (ranked 107, 17.2 billion).
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The Serum Institute of India’s Cyrus Poonawalla is ranked 169th on the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires with a net worth of $12.7 billion.
Forbes noted that India has the third-highest number of billionaires with 140 people included in the list.
This is followed by Germany with 136 and Russia with 117.